Cyclone Montha Crosses Andhra and Yanam Coasts; 43,000 Hectares of Crops Damaged

Severe cyclonic storm Montha crossed the Andhra Pradesh and Yanam coasts between Machilipatnam and Kalingapatnam last night, clocking wind speeds of 90 to 100 kilometres per hour.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said, Montha had begun its landfall near Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada at 7 PM yesterday. The storm triggered very heavy rainfall in Andhra Pradesh, which has damaged 43,000 hectares of crops in the state.

Met Department has forecast light to moderate rainfall at most places in Andhra Pradesh and Yanam and heavy to very rainfall at a few places today. It has forecast extremely heavy rainfall of greater than 20 centimetres at isolated places during the same period.

Under the influence of the severe cyclonic storm, Nellore district in Andhra Pradesh recorded the highest amount of rainfall yesterday. Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi said Odisha escaped major damage from Montha, bringing relief to the state even as precautionary measures remained in force.

Mr. Majhi, who reviewed the post-landfall situation at the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) control room, said there were only reports of minor landslides and uprooting of trees in some areas.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed 26 teams in light of the storm, with 12 of them in Andhra Pradesh, six in Odisha and three in northern Tamil Nadu. It also deployed personnel in Chhattisgarh and Telangana. 

Union Health Ministry reviewed preparedness measures for Cyclone Montha with senior officials of the eastern coastal States, including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Tamil Nadu. The Ministry has extended full support to the States, assuring all necessary assistance for an effective emergency medical response.